U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., the chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, doubled down on his support of the FairTax proposal on Thursday.

Across Northeast Florida and the nation, citizens are spending billions of dollars and hours navigating a complex tax code time and money that could be better spent growing our economy and creating jobs, Crenhaw said on Thursday. Putting a FairTax in place solves that issue and deserves immediate consideration by Congress.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., one of the senior members sitting on the U.S. House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, wrote President Barack Obama on Thursday, vowing to work with the White House on free trade agreements. Buchanan supports the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership

"In your State of the Union address you expressed a willingness to work with Congress on expanding international trade opportunities that will help grow the U.S. economy and create American jobs. Offer accepted, Buchanan wrote.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz , R-Fort Walton Beach, the chairman of the House Finance and Tax Committee, looks ready to give the green light to Gov. Rick Scotts proposal to cut the communication service tax (CST) by $500 million. Gaetz even called for more tax cuts than the ones Scott proposed on cellphones and TV services.

From his perch on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, which handles taxation issues, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., came out swinging against President Barack Obamas plan to raise taxes $320 billion over the next 10 years.

New Jersey might be Gov. Chris Christies, R-N.J., backyard but former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., plans to hit the Garden State.

The Bergen County Record is reporting that Bush is mining major Republican donors in New Jersey. Bush has already announced an exploratory presidential effort while Christie also has his eyes on running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

H/T Politicalwire

On Tuesday Gov. Rick Scott called for cutting Floridas communication service tax (CST) by $470 million. Scott insisted a family spending $100 a month on cellphones and cable will save $43 a year.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., placed second behind former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., in the 2012 Republican primaries and there are signs in recent days that he, like his former rival, has his eyes on another bid in 2016.

Despite winning 11 contests in 2012, including the Iowa caucus, Santorum often encountered fundraising woes during his presidential campaign. On Tuesday, Santorum looked to ensure that would not sink him in 2016 by announcing his finance team for his Patriot Voices PAC.

At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., starting his first full term in Congress, announced he will serve on three Appropriations subcommittees: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs;Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and Commerce, Justice and Science.

State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the newly elected chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), named David Johnson and Pablo Diaz in charge of his transition team on Tuesday.

"I am grateful that David and Pablo have agreed to guide the party through this transition. I have known them both for years and count them as friends and colleagues, Ingoglia said. They are both well-respected veterans of the RPOF and I know they will provide me with sound counsel and advice as we make a smooth transition and prepare the party for victory.

Florida House Majority Leader Dana Young, R-Tampa, was named on Monday by GOPAC to its 2015 Legislative Leaders Advisory Board.

The members of our 2015 Legislative Leaders Advisory Board will have an important role in educating and electing a new generation of Republican leaders, said GOPAC Chairman David Avella on Monday. Their involvement will strengthen our mission to build a healthy roster of prepared and tested state leaders who are ready to lead in their legislatures and/or run for higher office."